Apple Rolls Out Product Updates Including New iPad 2 Air
By Edward Cardenas
SOUTHFIELD (CBS Detroit) - A thinner iPad Air, an update to Mac Mini and the release of iOS 8.2 were among the product enhancements unveiled Thursday by Apple at an event at the company's headquarters.
This was the second major product announcement by Apple in as many months, but unlike the previous event which featured new iPhones and the Apple Watch, the tech company was more low-key but still offered a number new features and updates to existing software.
One of the biggest items that was unveiled was the iPad Air 2, which weighs less than a pound, is more than half as thin as the original iPad, offers enhanced camera and comes in three colors: gold, silver and space gray.
"iPad is a magical piece of glass that runs more than 675,000 apps specifically designed for it, and is thin and light enough that you can comfortably hold it all day; the new iPad Air 2 is packed with amazing new innovations, weighs less than a pound, and at just 6.1 mm is the thinnest tablet in the world," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, in a release.
Touch ID, which will allow Apple Pay users to purchase items in apps, will be available on the iPad 2 Air and iPad mini 3. Both models will be available for orders Friday, and will be available in 16GB, 64GB and 128GB models.
Apple's mobile payment service, Apple Pay, will be available Monday. Users of the service will be able to shop at a variety of brick and mortar stores, restaurants along with websites. Also on Monday, Apple stated it will release an iOS8 update that will address some of the glitches and return the camera roll feature to iPhoto.
While providing a number of updates for its mobile devices, Apple also provided new features for desktop products.
The OS X Yosemite desktop operating system is available for free download Thursday for Mac users and features updated versions of Safari; the ability to make and receive iPhone calls from a Mac and AirDrop file sharing.
Additionally, Apple unveiled a 27-inch iMac with a Retina 5K display, 14.7 million pixel display and uses 30 percent less power. It will be available for $2,499 starting Thursday.
There was also updates to the Mac mini - which the first time the desktop has been updated in two years - with features including a fourth generation Intel Core processor and enhanced graphics while using less energy. The Mac mini starts at $499 and will also be available Thursday.